Syria rebels warn: Airport is a 'legitimate target'

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Rebels say they have momentum capturing heavy weapons from the Syrian army and are closing in on Damascus, but the entire region is still bracing  for what could be a very violent end to one of the Middle East's most entrenched regimes. NBC's Richard Engel reports.By NBC News wire servicesSyrian rebels fighting to topple President Bashar Assad said Friday that Damascus International Airport was now a "legitimate target” and warned civilians going there did so "at their own risk."

Follow @NBCNewsWorld  The announcement comes as fighting between Assad's troops and rebels intensified near the airport just south of the capital.

Clashes in the area forced the closure of the airport road for the second time this week.

The fighting has also forced the suspension of commercial flights in the past week.

Two fighters operating in the capital's southern suburbs said the rebels were trying to besiege the airport in an attempt to cut military supplies to the regime. The two spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity for security reasons.NBC's Andrea Mitchell weighs in on what's the next move diplomatically in response to Syria's chemical weapons threat as Russia agrees to explore the option of moving to an interim government without Syria's President Assad. NBC's Andrea Mitchell reports.

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